Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Left & Right - Virginia Settlement

Single review by kev@thesoundofconfusion.co.uk

Given the video that accompanies 'Virginia Settlement' it seems like the obvious thing to do would be to describe Charlottesville band Left & Right as garage-rock, so it's handy that the music they make also fits that description, albeit in a more modern way than the '60s throwbacks. Instead it's the fuzzy sounds of '90s alt-rock that they offer their own interpretation of. They also proudly declare that for new EP '93' they "finally recorded in a building we don't live in". Hopefully they shift a few copies so they can return to the studio soon. Another fact (apparently) about the band is that they all work as bus drivers. We sincerely hope that's true!

'Virginia Settlement' is the lead-track from the new EP and sees heavy use of guitars, mainly as a weapon for crafting a substantial wall of buzzing sound, there's not much in the way of soloing. In fact the guitars are so prominent in the mix that they virtually drown out the vocals, yet somehow this works quite well, and that's no slight on the singer's abilities whatsoever, merely meaning that it gives their sound, which is one that's been in constant production by various bands for 25 years, a little more individuality. It's a top tune too, so it's all good.